Anonymous Launches ‘Day Of Trolling’ Against Isis

Michael Moore joined TechWeek Europe in January 2014 as a trainee before graduating to Reporter later that year. He covers a wide range of topics, including but not limited to mobile devices, wearable tech, the Internet of Things, and financial technology.

Trolling

“You may be wondering why we are “trolling” Isis and planning all these demonstrations against Isis. But to understand that you must first see how Isis works,” a message from Anonymous said on hosting website Ghostbin.

“They thrive off of fear they hope that by their actions they can silence all of us and get us to just lay low and hide in fear.”

The message adds that people do not need to be a member of Anonymous to participate, with the overall message looking to show ISIS that you are not afraid.

Several specific ways of how to contribute are detailed in the post, chief of which is via the hashtags #Daesh – a derogatory term for Isis used in Iraq and the Middle East – and #Daeshbags.

Supporters have also been asked to “make mocking videos of Isis” on sites such as YouTube and even, “Print out photos that mock Isis and spread them around your city”, although there is a note of caution that people may misinterpret the images as supporting instead of mocking.

Action

Anonyomous’ initial attempts to combat Isis were somewhat scattergun, as the group set about collecting information on Twitter accounts thought to be associated with the network.

However, the list was described as “wildly inaccurate”.

The group also released a “noob guide” that shows how people can join its efforts to take down the Isis online presence.

Anonymous is notorious for taking on organisations or groups that look to spread hateful messages, often successfully highlighting activities to the wider world.

Earlier this month, the group published the details of a thousand alleged KKK sympathisers as part of its #HoodsOff campaign, which it described as “a form of resistance” against racial violence.

That marked the latest part of its campaign against the KKK, as in November 2014 the group launched a major cyberattack which included posting several messages on the KKK’s official Twitter feed, and taking control of another account affiliated with the Klan.

And in January this year Anonymous also claimed responsibility for disabling a France-based website it associated with extremists in the wake of the murder of journalists and artists at the magazine Charlie Hebdo.